In a move that has shocked the scientific community, the White House has ordered NASA to begin satellite termination plans for two important climate-monitoring missions.
Sudden Directive Prompts Satellite Termination Plans
These missions, known as the Orbiting Carbon Observatories, were designed to track carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. This data helps scientists understand how greenhouse gases are affecting the planet.
One of the satellites is attached to the International Space Station. The other is a free-flying satellite orbiting the Earth on its own. If the satellite termination order is carried out, the stand-alone satellite will be shut down. After that, it will fall from orbit and burn up in the atmosphere. This would permanently end its mission.
These two satellites have been giving scientists high-quality data for several years. The information is not only used by climate researchers, but also by farmers, environmental agencies, and even energy companies. The data helps them see how carbon dioxide moves across the globe, how much is being released by human activity, and how it affects weather and crop growth.
12,000 Satellites, Zero Oversight? Budget Cuts May Trigger Catastrophic Space Collision
NASA had recently reviewed the missions and concluded that the satellites were still working extremely well. They were expected to continue providing useful information for many more years. That is why the satellite termination plan has come as such a surprise.
Budget Cuts Target Vital Earth Observing Systems
According to reports, the satellite termination is part of the government’s new budget plan for the 2026 fiscal year. In this proposal, large parts of NASA’s Earth science programs would face deep cuts. The two satellites being targeted cost only about $15 million per year to operate. This is a very small amount compared to NASA’s total budget of over $25 billion.
Despite their low cost and high value, people inside NASA were told to begin planning how to shut the satellites down. Some scientists have said they were contacted and asked detailed questions about how to end the missions. Many believe these questions were only asked because someone had given the order for satellite termination.
Experts say there are no technical problems with the satellites. They are still working well and returning valuable data every day. In fact, this information is used around the world to understand climate change and predict natural events. Shutting down these missions could mean losing access to this data — and that could create serious problems for disaster response, farming, and weather forecasting.
This decision seems to reflect a larger effort to reduce the role of science in government decision-making. Some believe that the goal behind the satellite termination is not about saving money, but about silencing research related to climate change.
Backlash Grows Over Forced Satellite Termination
The order to shut down these satellites is part of a bigger plan to cancel or reduce dozens of other NASA projects. The government’s new budget proposal puts over 50 science missions at risk. Many lawmakers and scientists are pushing back strongly against the plan.
Lawmakers have created a counter-budget to protect NASA’s existing funding. Some officials say that trying to use the 2026 budget to change what was already approved for 2025 is not just wrong — it might even be illegal. They argue that Congress already gave NASA the money and that it can’t be taken away without a legal process.
Experts also warn that ending these missions through satellite termination could have serious long-term effects. The satellites help track rising temperatures, air pollution, and carbon dioxide levels. Without them, the U.S. would lose a major tool used to study the Earth and respond to emergencies like floods, droughts, and wildfires.
No more liftoffs: How government budget cuts are grounding space startups
Many people are asking why the government would order satellite termination for projects that are still doing important work. These satellites are already in space. They are already collecting data. And they cost very little to keep running.
For now, scientists and lawmakers are trying to fight the decision and save the missions. But unless the plan changes, two of NASA’s most valuable climate-monitoring tools could be lost forever due to satellite termination.
